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Activity ›

Freshwater ecosystem

New Zealand’s streams, lakes, rivers and wetlands support around 54 species of native fish including galaxiids, bullies, eels, lamprey, black flounder, torrentfish, smelt and mullet – and these are just the ones we know of that have been identified and classified! This ecosystem also provides a home for many other species, including ducks, insects and kōura.

In this activity, students use resource materials to identify the features of a variety of New Zealand freshwater species.

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

use their observation skills to identify some freshwater species found in New Zealand

use their literacy skills to identify key words and phrases about some New Zealand freshwater species

locate the area of the freshwater habitat that each species is likely to live